Nov 9 (FT) A record of 9,545 tourists have arrived in the country within the first week of November, reinforcing the industry’s optimism for the winter season. As per provisional data, from 1-7 November, a total of 3,107 tourists from India arrived, becoming the top source market, followed by 774 from Russia and 764 from the UK. There were also travellers from Germany, Pakistan, the Maldives, France, Canada, the US and Switzerland in the first week of the month. more..

Nov 9 (Island) Dilshan Wijith Kumara of Sri lanka Army finished first in the Men’s Standard Open racing event at the Nestomalt Cycling Challenge 2021 which was conducted in Colombo on Sunday. The Nestomalt Cycling Challenge 2021 was successfully held at Viharamahadevi Park, Colombo, with the participation of over 200 professional cyclists from around the country. Organized by the Cycling Federation of SL under the guidance of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, more..

Nov 9 (EN) School teachers and health sector workers in Sri Lanka are to engage in trade union activity on Tuesday (09) over salary anomalies and other issues. Declaring a national day of protests, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) general secretary Joseph Stalin said that school teachers and principals affiliated with the union will hold protests outside all zonal education offices around the island. more..

Nov 9 (TM) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), which saw a number of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) this year that were oversubscribed on the opening day itself, is now planning to introduce a new form of stock market listing: Dollar or multi-currency listing. CSE Chairman Dumith Fernando stated that the new form of listing is part of their roadmap and added that CSE is hoping to allow local companies, particularly exporters who are seeking overseas currency capital, to utilise multi-currency more..

Nov 9 (CT) Former SL skipper and Coach Marvan Atapattu reckons that Pakistan will be favourites to win this year’s T20 World Cup 2021 here in the UAE. “It’s not easy to beat the Pakistan team in the UAE. These conditions are very close to their home conditions. The length you bowl and the shots they play: I think they can even do that in their sleep. They are so familiar with the conditions,” said Atapattu in a virtual interview with a group of journalists here in Dubai from Colombo. more..

Nov 9 (ST) Disregarding average market prices, PCR testing kits had been bought from a bidder who quoted a higher price at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, thus causing a financial loss of more than Rs. 125 million, Auditor General’s 2020 Report has revealed. The report was handed over to Speaker this week by Auditor General. It said 328 PCR kits were bought in three instances in April 2020 at a higher price, disregarding the average market price of Rs. 1,850 a kit. more..

Nov 9 (CT) Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella requested Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa to reconsider the decision taken by SLC to suspend Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella from playing cricket, and take them back into the National squad. Speaking in Parliament, Kiriella said that some of the opening batters were unsuccessful during ICC T20 World Cup. Therefore, taking these three experienced players would be a good move at this juncture, he claimed. more..

Nov 9 (TM) The National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) would take necessary steps regarding the Letter of Demand (LoD) which is said to have been sent to the NPQS by Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd., after obtaining the advice of the Agriculture Ministry Secretary Prof. Udith Mudalige and the Agriculture Director General Dr. Ajantha de Silva. When contacted, NPQS Additional Director Dr. Raveen Wickramaarachchi said more..

Nov 9 (EN) SL’s Meteorology Dept warned Monday evening that prevailing rough weather conditions will intensify over the next 24 hours due to a low-pressure situation formed in the south-east Bay of Bengal before it subsides on November. Met Dept has issued a code red warning of heavy rainfall above 150mm for the North Western, Western, Sabaragamuwa and Northern provinces and the Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. The rest of the country can expect moderate more..

Nov 9 (TM) All teachers and principals in the Mawanella Education Zone have decided not to report to work today, in protest over the non-arrest of Mawanella PS Deputy Chairman K.G. Piyatissa, who had allegedly forcibly entered a school in the Mawanella area on 3 Nov and disrupted the discharge of duties by its Principal and teachers, according to the Teachers’ and Principals’ Trade Union Alliance (TPTUA). The Mawanella Police had on 7 Nov informed the teachers’ & principals’ more..

Nov 9 (CT) British-SL businessman, Allirajah Subaskaran, who came under Opposition’s attack during the Yahapalana regime and was implicated on money laundering charges has arrived in the island and is currently staying at a star-class hotel. Reports confirmed that he entered the country from the VIP lounge of the BIA. He is the Group Chairman of Lycamobile Company and came to the limelight by purchasing properties more..

Nov 9 (DM) Prez Rajapaksa has rejected the resignation submitted by Justice Minister Ali Sabry after the latter expressed his disappointment at the gazette notice issued over the One County One Law concept and being left in the dark over the matter. A senior political source said that Prez was in discussions with Sabry during the past few days and the gazette is likely to be amended, keeping in line with the original concept of the One Country One Law policy which was discussed by more..

Nov 9 (DM) The Health Ministry could be compelled to recommend closing the country once again if people’s behaviour continues to be poor, Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr Hemantha Herath said yesterday. "Although we cannot afford to go for complete lockdown, we may have to do it in order to avert a major havoc if health practices are repeatedly ignored," Dr Herath told a news briefing. "There is no point of crying over spilled milk once the damage is done. more..

Nov 9 (TM) Contradicting a recent claim by CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the Parliament that the controversial agreement between the Govt of SL and US-based New Fortress Energy Inc. company will be tabled in Parliament soon. “The agreement will be tabled after the relevant formalities are carried out,” said Gunawardena. This was in response to a question raised by UNP MP Ranil more..

Nov 9 (SLN) The Navy relief teams rescued 71 individuals trapped in floods following heavy downpour at Palaviya in Kalpitiya in the Puttalam district at night on 8th Nov. Subsequently, the rescued persons were brought to safe locations and provided necessities. SL Navy has deployed 10 relief teams in Paragoda of Kalutara, New Town of Rathnapura, Udamalaththa in Galle, Palaviya, Wanathawilluwa, Karambe in Puttalam, Giriulla in Kurunegala and Rajanganaya in A'pura more..

Nov 9 (FT) There is profuse attention to curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and the economic downturn. We need to shed light on a wide array of human activities from households to the corporate sphere. Management professionals, thinkers, and academics need to come forward and address some of the key thematic areas that need pondering since they offer valuable considerations for both managers and leaders to realign their activities. We need more and more leaders who see the big picture more..

Nov 9 (FT) It was very hot news, during the last couple of weeks, which is now gradually diminishing, the blacklisting of People’s Bank, one of the leading State banks, by the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka. The reason that has been highlighted for this blacklisting was “Not complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit (LC)” that has been opened by People’s Bank for its customer State Fertiliser Corporation. more..

Nov 9 (DM) Beginning with the appeal petition filed on behalf of Ratnapura District MP Premalal Jayasekera alias Choka Malli, counsel for accused-appellant Jayasekera submitted to Court of Appeal today that the real murderer of this incident which took place in 2015 during the Presidential Election was set free by the Attorney General. On July 31, 2020, Premalal Jayasekera and two others were convicted by Ratnapura High Court for committing murder of Shantha Dodamgoda while more..

Nov 9 (EN) The adverse weather prevailing in Sri Lanka since end of Oct 29 has claimed eleven lives and affected over 28,000 people, and will likely continue, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). Torrential downpours have been reported in many parts of the island, with the Kurunegala, Colombo, Kegalle, Monaragala, Gampaha and Kalutara districts having experienced over 100mm of rain over the past 24 hours more..

Nov 9 (TM) The President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, had a cordial meeting with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning. Ahmed Khalil – Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Ibrahim Hood – Secretary of State for Foreign Relations at the president’s office in the Maldives, Omar Abdul Razak – High Commissioner of the Maldives to SL and Mr. Jayasundara were also present more..

Nov 9 (Island) Sri Lanka is likely to face another COVID-19 wave, warns the head of the Public Health Inspectors Union (PHIU) Upul Rohana. He said that SL had recorded over 600 new cases for the third consecutive day. “It is up to the people to decide whether they need another lockdown, which will deal severe blow not only to the economy but the education of our children. If the people follow health guidelines, we will be able to control the virus and keep the country open,” he said. more..

Nov 9 (DM) Zahran’s wife had confessed that her husband had met the intelligence officers several times prior to Easter Sunday attacks, SJB MP Harin Fernando told Parliament today. Whilst making this disclosure, MP Fernando requested the Public Security Minister to table a copy of the statements given by Zahran’s wife to Parliament. “We don’t know whether Zahran’s wife is alive or not, but we request Minister Sarath Weerasekera more..

Nov 9 (TM) Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Dr. Harsha De Silva criticised the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s (CBSL) new rules in respect of repatriation of export proceeds into Sri Lanka and conversion of such export proceeds to Sri Lanka Rupees. The MP took to twitter today (09) to question who wrote the gazette and further stated that professionals want to leave Sri Lanka but those who stay back and earn foreign exchange by way of exporting services are subjected to such rules. more..

Nov 9 (Island) A heated argument ensued in Parliament yesterday following a demand by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe that the govt table the Yugadanavi agreement and the report of the Glasgow Summit attended by Prez Rajapaksa. The UNP leader said Sinhala and Tamil translations of the documents should be made available. “Several parties have not yet seen the Yugadanavi agreement and we want to study it prior to making our observations,” he said. more..

Nov 9 (Island) The govt would rehabilitate about 150 tanks in the Eastern Province next year under the President’s tank enrichment programme, said Minister of State Sadasivam Viyalendran. He said that plans were underway to rehabilitate 400 tanks by 2025 to boost the agricultural activities in the eastern province. Paddy cultivation was carried out under the Kadukkamunai Irrigation Project, which is under the Manmunai Southwest Pattipalai Divisional Secretariat Division in the Batticaloa District. more..

Nov 9 (TM) SL will be facing an issue where large scale black market trade will begin and will soon go out of control, says ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. He made this statement while speaking in Parliament today. “I visited an electronics store recently, and the salesman said that the item which I wanted was out of stock. But, he said that I can get the item from a house where the stocks are readily available. The rich people are buying items and selling at exorbitant prices. more..

Nov 9 (EN) SJB plans to launch a massive farmers’ protest on November 16, SJB MP Harin Fernando said, inviting all workers to join. Edited to add: SJB MP Dr Harsha de Silva told EconomyNext a short while ago that the protest will be held in Colombo joined by not just farmers, but many others. Farmers in Sri Lanka have been protesting a controversial decision to ban agrochemicals in what experts say is an ill-conceived overnight shift to organic fertilizer. more..

Nov 9 (TM) A special operation conducted by the navy in the beach area of Chilaw has led to the apprehension of 19 persons who were suspected to be attempting to migrate to a foreign country illegally via sea route, this morning. The SL Navy also held a van at the location, during this operation. On receipt of information, the Navy mounting a special operation, searched a suspicious van in the estuary of Chilaw this morning and apprehended this group of 19 individuals including children, more..

Nov 9 (Island) German Ambassador to SL Holger Seubert has told Minister of Health, Keheliya Rambukwella that investors from Germany, which has a most advanced healthcare system in the world, are keen to invest in SL’s health sector, including pharmaceutical manufacture. The Ambassador has pointed out that such investors are already active in Sri Lanka and it would be very important if it is promoted more extensively. The German Ambassador made this observation more..

Nov 9 (EN) Sri Lanka as a sovereign nation has the right to reject the allegedly substandard fertilizer supplied by a Chinese firm, a leading environmental lawyer said questioning what he said is the public’s lacklustre opposition to a letter of demand (LoD) sent by the company. “An LoD is one way of indicating a legal action will be taken if the other party does not comply. More often than not, it is a threat,” environmental lawyer more..

Nov 9 (EN) Sri Lanka’s embassy in Brazil with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is promoting expanded bilateral trade by bringing together businesses of the two countries and providing advice on market entry and regulatory requirements. Exports to Brazil was 42 million dollars in 2020 but there was a much greater potential, Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the country Sumith Dassanayake told an online forum with the Sao Paolo Chamber of Commerce and Ceylon Chamber on Nov 4. more..

Nov 9 (DM) A complaint has been lodged with the Keselwatta Police over the disappearance of three underage girls residing in Colombo 12 who had gone missing since Monday. The girls aged between 13 and 15 had reportedly left the house on Monday morning and had not returned home as of this evening. It was reported that two sisters and a cousin of the same family were last seen at the Galle Face Green in Colombo. Keselwatta police are investigating the incident. more..

Nov 9 (EN) Sri Lanka must immediately present a roadmap for the country to successfully achieve targets set out at the recent COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, the opposition UNP said. “This govt has taken on an international undertaking, and now has an obligation to fulfil their responsibilities to both the Sri Lankan public and the global community,” the party said in a statement welcoming the pledges made by world leaders at the int'l summit. more..

Nov 9 (DM) SL will have to pay US$ 8 million to the Chinese company - Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co. Ltd. according to the terms agreed by the Banks when opening Letter of Credit (LC), NPP MP Vijitha Herath said today. He told Parliament that according to a letter sent by the People’s Bank to the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Ltd., on Nov 2, the People’s Bank was bound to pay US$ 8 million to the Chinese Company. He said the People’s Bank had informed the Ceylon Fertilizer Company Ltd that more..

Nov 9 (CT) IMF’s Washington D.C.-based Mission Chief for SL Masahiro Nozaki on Saturday told this reporter by email that they have not received a request for financial support from SL. His reply was in response to a question made by this reporter, also via email, where he was asked, “I wonder whether Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has made any overtures to you all in recent times (in the past few days!?) to uplift the country's foreign reserves position, in the backdrop that the country's more..

Nov 9 (TM) Former Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. Chairman Anil Koswatte has stated that a stringent liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) procurement process was followed during his time and that claims of a Rs. 10 billion loss in that period, as alleged by current Litro Gas Lanka Chairman Theshara Jayasinghe, are only in the latter’s mind. “The clearly set protocols don’t allow for any manoeuvring or strong arm tactics as alleged more..

Nov 9 (AD) The Circular on the proposed Agrahara Insurance Scheme for pensioners, published by the Public Administration Ministry has been rolled back temporarily. This was announced in a new Circular issued by the ministry’s secretary today (9). Accordingly, the provisions of Circular 12/2005 (VIII) dated October 29, 2021 have been suspended pending further discussions with all relevant parties. The ministry will take an appropriate decision after taking into consideration the objections more..